Mirror signal



Nov. 18, 1941. G. GOTZINGER MIRROR S IGNAL Filed June 19, 1939 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ml SIGNAL G e cm. Wt. Mich. Application June 19, 198., Serial No. 279.840 1 Chin. (cl. 177429) The present invention pertains to a novel signalling device for motor vehicles. The principal object of the invention is to provide such a device in association with a rear and side view mirror.

This mirror is usually carried by an arm extending laterally from the vehicle body. According to the invention, the mirror is mounted in a bell or housing containing an electric lamp. The mirror itself has a transparent backing or silvering which becomes non-reflecting when illuminated from behind.

The invention provides for permitting light to pass only through a limited area of the mirror in the form of a signal or symbol. 'This may be done by means of a stencil behind the mirror or by scratched lines in the back of the mirror and may be backed by a colored transparency in either case.

The conductor from the lamp is extended to a switch within the vehicle, and it has been found convenient to pass the wiring between two relatively swinging parts 01' the vehicle body, such as between a door and post. In this connection, it is an object of the invention to avoid mutilation of the conductor by the constant swinging of the door. Accordingly, the conductor is separated in this space, one part having a bare end rigidly supported to maintain a deflniie position. The other part of the conductor terminates at a bare contact supported by the opposite body member by a suitable means such as a vacuum.cup. The free end is in engagement with the conductor when the door is closed. On opening the door, the rigidly supported part of the conductor merely moves away from the contact, with the result that there is no flexing of the conductor during the movement of the door, and breaking of the conductor is thereby avoided.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a detail plan section oi a portion of an automobile body, showing the signalling device in position;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figlire 1;

Figure 3 is a detail elevation of the bracket switch;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, the automobile body portion being omitted;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2, the automobile body portion being omitted;

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the transparent mirror with the stencil applied thereto,

Figure 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Figure Figure 8 is a rear elevation'of the etched or scratched transparent mirror, and

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

In Figure 1 are shown relatively swinging parts I and 2 of an automobile body which may be, respectively, the swinging door and a fixed post. The parts are Joined together by a hinge 3 of conventional design. The door I has a lip or flange 4 that covers the space I between the parts.

The lip 4 is used for supporting a laterally extending mirror structure which will now be described. The attaching device comprises a hollow bracket 0 with a lateral flange I from which extends a lip I adapted to engage the inner surface of the lip 4, as shown in Figure 1. Within the bracket 6 is mounted a lose clamp 9 having one face padded ati III to engage the outer surface of the lip 4 and yet not scratch it, as illustrated in Figure 2. A pair of studs I I threaded through the back of the bracket 6 tightens the clamp 9 and flange I against the lip 4.

From the bracket extends a tube I2 held thereto by a nut It. The outer end of the tube is bent at l4 and carries a lamp housing or bell I 5, in the mouth of which is mounted a mirror and lens structure as will presently be described. Within the bell is mounted in the usual manner a lamp socket it having a terminal grounded thereto in any suitable manner. A single conductor ll extends from the socket through the tube and into the bracket 6. The conductor passes over the free vertical edge of the lip 4, as shown in Figure 1, and through an aperture II in the lip ii, as shown in Figure 2. A clip I! is mounted on the lip 8 and 1s apertured at 20 to receive and retain the conductor I I. The conductor, which is sheathed in insulation in the usual manner, passes through a supporting tube 2| secured to the clip I! for the purpose of maintaining this portion of the conductor in a rigid position. At the extremity of the conductor is a metal contact 22 backed by a sheet of insulation The opposite surface of the member 2 is utilized to support the continuation of the conductor in a manner whereby no portion of the conductor becomes tangled or otherwise adversely eflected by the repeated opening and closing of the door.

The continuation of the conductor I1 is another similar conductor 24 leading to a switch as will presently be described.. The conductor ll is supported from the inner surface 18 of the member 2 by any suitable means such as a vacuum cup 20 having an exposed contact point 21 to which the conductor 24 is connected. In the closed position of the door, as illustra in Figure 1, this contact point is engaged by he contact u of conductor H and is prevented by the insulation 23 from engaging the member I. When the door opens, the contact 22 merely swings away trom the contact 11. The breaking of the circuit thereby is not material, since the a lamp is not in service at this time. When the door is closed, the contacts engage each other again. In both the engaging and disengaging operations, there is no flexing of the conductor which would eventually cause a break if the conductor were continuous.

The conductor 24 extends to a bracket switch II secured to any convenient part of the vehicle by means of a clamp screw 10. The finger piece of the switch is designated by the numeral I0. The remaining terminal of the switch is connected to the underground terminal of the storage battery, 'whereby the circuit is completed.

The lens and the mirror structure mounted in the mouth of the bell II include a transparent mirror ii, that is,one that becomes transparent when illuminated from behind but otherwise functions as a reflector. Behind the member Si is a stencil 32 with a cut-out symbol II, and' amass:

cut-out 33, showing illumination colored by the sheet 84. For example. the cut-out may be in the form of an arrow pointing to the left, and the device used for signalling a left turn.

In the modification shown in Figures 8 and 9,

the symbol It is scratched in the back or silvering oi the transparent mirror 81. This takes the tion has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details or construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as indicated by the appended claim.

What I claim is:

In an automobile body having a door hinged thereon and forming a space with a part of the body, a bracket having a lip overhanging a portion of said door, a loose. clamp in said bracket en aging the same portion or the door opposite said lip, means in said bracket for tightening said clamp against said portion, a laterally extending signal arm supported by said bracket, an electric lamp carried by said arm, a clip mounted on said lip, a rigid support attached to said clip and extending into said space, a conductor extending from said lamp through said arm, bracket and clip into said support and having a contact exposed in said space, a contact supported by said body, another conductor extending from said last named contact, said contacts being engageable and disengageable on swinging or said door.

GEORGE GOTZINGER. 

